very aggressive puppy

[rwesley]

I love my new yorkie Banjo! Sometimes he gets very aggressive with his biting, almost like he is trying to prove a point that he will get the last bite! I have been very stern in saying no and that's enough but it doesnt seem to help. I have to admit that I have swatted him (very lightly, just enough to get his attention) and this seems to help! Its like he know I mean business when I do that! But afterwards I feel kinda bad, like I've done something wrong. Even though I know in the long run he will understand that he has to mind! Banjo is 9 weeks old and I know just a puppy, but I feel there is a difference in his biting playing and being aggressive! Any suggestions??? I do not want to harm or hurt my sweet baby boy in any way!

[Lovetodream88]

Your going to have to teach him bite inhibition that is usually taught by his mom between 10-12 weeks I believe. I am not sure I know much about that. I know when Callie was a puppy the only thing that worked with her was to squirt her with a water bottle and say no but I'm not sure that is a good idea with such a young pup. Please don't swat at him that can teach him to be afraid of hands and people.

[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by rwesley

I love my new yorkie Banjo! Sometimes he gets very aggressive with his biting, almost like he is trying to prove a point that he will get the last bite! I have been very stern in saying no and that's enough but it doesnt seem to help. I have to admit that I have swatted him (very lightly, just enough to get his attention) and this seems to help! Its like he know I mean business when I do that! But afterwards I feel kinda bad, like I've done something wrong. Even though I know in the long run he will understand that he has to mind! Banjo is 9 weeks old and I know just a puppy, but I feel there is a difference in his biting playing and being aggressive! Any suggestions??? I do not want to harm or hurt my sweet baby boy in any way!

hmmm 9 weeks is very young I thought I read that the mammas teach them not to bite. Is his mamma there with you? if so she will teach him I believe. but if not, I would think the stirn "no" is the best way and lots of praise when he listens, maybe a treat. Is there anything in particular that brings it on like playing with him or petting... something specific??

[capt_noonie]

Oh dear. He's supposed to be with his mom still, who at this point would be teaching bite inhibition. Yorkie puppies learn a lot of their manners at this age, and really benefit greatly if not taken from mom before 12 weeks.

So no, the puppy does not know what he is doing is wrong. The way you are correcting him is not alright. You cannot swat a yorkie puppy. A light tap with one or two fingers on their hindquarters is more than enough to get their attention. But I highly doubt he's being "aggressive".

[KazzyK810]

Don't swat him. You don't want to create fear in him and cause more aggression.

The thing that worked best for ZoE was to ignore her. If we were playing and she got too nippy I would firmly say, "NO!", if she did it again, I said, "NO!" and ignored her for a minute. Then I'd go back to playing with her. She quickly learned that nipping was not going to get her the attention she wanted.

[Coton Momma]

Think of it this way. Pups don't have hands so they use their mouth to explore and learn about things. And just like kids they want to explore EVERYTHING and it all goes in their mouth. What you need to do is not stop it, but teach how hard. Always always always ALWAYS keep a couple chew toys in your pocket. Small nyla bones rock. When the bite is too hard make a sharp, loud, high pitched sound like a YIP and NO Banjo. Then give the chew toy. I am pretty sure there are some vids on Youtube showing this.

[ilovejoel]

What I did with Joel was just say no bite and put a toy in his mouth and then praise him.
And after he starts knowing that he shouldn't bite thats when I started "timeout" which was puting him in something(not his crate)but like a laundry basket over him or at one time it was an empty toybox lol but that really worked with him but not until he was old enough to understand.
But when there really young just replace with a toy and if he keeps biting just walk away, he'll catch on quick
Hope that helps

[yorkietalkjilly]

I've used the push the hand further into the mouth of a very obnoxious biting puppy, waiting for him to release it and praise when he does. He won't like the discomfort or losing control of the bite like that. Or, you could stand up and turn away from him every single time he does it, taking away the attention & response he likes to get.

Here is a pretty informative article about different techniques to use on youngish biting puppies under 4 mos.

Mouthing: Common Dog Aggression Problems: Training

[nanahas3]

I know many think a puppy this young can't be aggressive but my sister in law got hers way to young at not even 9 weeks and she was the most aggresive little thing I have ever seen. The only thing that worked for her was to put her on her side and hold her there until she submitted. This was a process that when on all day every day for days on end but after about 2 weeks of it she finally realized she was not allowed to act that way and became a very sweet little girl. This little girl would even attack our two. It would start out as play but quickly turn to anger.

[Kingstonsmommy1]

I have an 11 wk. Yorkie and he likes to bite too! I've had my baby since he was about 8.5 weeks old and what I do when he starts to chew on my fingers is try to be a pack leader. Don't pull your hand back, ball your hand up (NOT like your going to punch him) but more to show him it's not ok and tell him NO in a stern voice, just don't back down you have to show that you're the pack leader. Pulling your hand away shows that he has the upper hand, you have to show him that your not leaving but he is stopping. After Kingston stops I praise him and give him a chew toy and play with him but once he goes for my fingers again we go through the NO proccess again and if he continues I will sit there holding my hand in a ball and won't play until he stops so in a way I ignore him without backing down. I don't think swatting him will work, you don't see other dogs spanking each other? lol...You have to be a pack leader. At least so far this has worked with my Boston terrier and hopefully it will continue to work with my Yorkie but so far I've noticed Yorkies are so incredibly smart and catch on quick.

[Teresa Ford]

Nip the Nip

Sounds like your puppy just gets over excited. Puppies nip each other and play rough. Depending on his age and stage of development here are a few things that may help.

1. After You say a dramatic high pitched Oucheeeeeeeeeeeeeee ! Immediately put him on the floor or turn your back or walk away and ignore for about 5 seconds. He needs to learn 'Never put teeth on people, because they will stop playing.
If love bites are not corrected it can lead to real bites that break skin.
2. If he nips while playing say 'Enough" and give him a toy instead of your hand and say 'Good TOY' when he bites the toy. Your cue word does not have to be Enough, You can use what ever feels right for you, like NO, or STOP IT. What ever cue word you use, say the same cue every time. Everyone in your family should use the same Cue words. (I do not like to say No Bite because, then you have to teach a new cue word for barking, rough play, fighting with other pets etc..) Enough is easy to use , and it always means Stop what you are doing right now !
Please do not play tug of war type of games with your puppy. This is too exciting for them, they get in that rip up the prey trance and you may get nipped.

[Kingstonsmommy1]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="My yorkie Kingston - YouTube" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here's a link to how I show Kingston not to bite but it was more of Kingston not wanting to play along..lol.

[maggiesmom_2007]

Everyone has given you great advice and while I have no extra advice to add I do want to say that swatting your pup no matter how lightly you do it is not a good idea. Especially at this age from 8 to 12 weeks they go through a fear period and what they learn to fear at this age stays with them for life.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by nanahas3

I know many think a puppy this young can't be aggressive but my sister in law got hers way to young at not even 9 weeks and she was the most aggresive little thing I have ever seen. The only thing that worked for her was to put her on her side and hold her there until she submitted. This was a process that when on all day every day for days on end but after about 2 weeks of it she finally realized she was not allowed to act that way and became a very sweet little girl. This little girl would even attack our two. It would start out as play but quickly turn to anger.

But it wasn't aggression she just didn't know how to act because she had never been taught like she would have been had she been with her mom until 12 weeks.

[nanahas3]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

But it wasn't aggression she just didn't know how to act because she had never been taught like she would have been had she been with her mom until 12 weeks.

I am sorry but you are wrong. I have been around puppies my entire life. Yes she was taken way to young from her mama but she would do the puppy biting and such but if she and Kyra were doing the play biting she would get mad and I mean mad and get Kyra by the hair at her throat. I believe if Kyra didn't have so much hair it would of been by her actual throat. When I would break them up she would literally tear into my hands biting me. The only way we could get her to stop was to lay her on her side and hold her there and talk to her. Not let her up till we saw the anger leave her eyes. I always talked calmly to her while holding her down and when she calmed down praised her for her attitude when calm. Like I said it took time but she is well behaved now.